Device for feeding rounds of ammunition from a magazine to the ramming position of a gun



1962 K. o. SODERQVIST 3,021,762

DEVICE FOR FEEDING ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION FROM A MAGAZINE TO THE RAMMING POSITION OF A GUN Filed June 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. KARL OLOF SODERQVIST BYMMW ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1962 K. o. sODERQwsT 3,021,752

DEVICE FOR FEED ROUND-S OF AMMUNI N FROM A MAGAZINE TO T RAMMING POSITION A GUN Filed June 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ()QGCDO OGQ INVEN KARL OLOF SGDERQV BYMMW ATTORNEYS iifid gmtes DEVECE FQR FEEDING ROUNDS OF AMMUNI- Sweden Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,414

Claims priority, application Sweden June 14, 1957 4 Claims. ((31. 89--33) The present invention relates to a device for feeding rounds of ammunition from a magazine to the ramming position of a gun, especially a recoiling gun; and more particularly to a device of the general kind above referred to, in which the rounds are successively fed from the magazine to a feeding table which in turn transports the rounds to the ramming position.

, There are known devices of the general kind above referred to, in which the magazine is divided into compartments from which successive rounds are fed to the table by means of gravity only. Such an arrangement is not fully satisfactory, especially when, as is frequently the case, the magazine is mounted on the elevating mass of'the gun and moves in unison with the same. As a result, only a small downward component of the gravitational force is available in certain elevational positions of the elevating mass, whereby the feeding of rounds upon the table becomes sluggish and uncertain.

It has also been proposed to obtain feeding in any elevational position of the mass by providing spring-loaded feeds ineach compartment of the magazine. The disadvantageof such an arrangement is that for each reloading of the magazine the feeders must first be removed, which is time consuming. I

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved round feeding device of the general kind above referred to, which feeds the rounds to the feed table by a positive force which is equally effective in all elevational positions of the elevating mass Without the need of removing or adjusting components of the magazine for loading the same.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a novel and improved feeding device inwhich therecoil movement of the gun is utilized to activate the feeding mechanism of the device so that rounds are successively fed to the ramming position until all the compartments are emptied and that any danger of jamming of rounds on the feeding table is effectively avoided.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out thereinafter and set forth in the appended claims which constitute part of the I application.

Inthe accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a round feeding device according to the invention, parts of the device being cut away to show the interior of the device.

' FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational front view of the magazine according to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the exemplified round feeding device comprises a magazine consisting of two halves 1 and 2. Both halves are fixedly mounted on the breech casing 3 of a recoiling gun, which may be elevated or depressed by conventional means suitable for the purpose and not essential for the understanding of the invention. The only recoiling component of the gun atent gun. All the components shown in the figures constitute part of the elevating mass of the gun.

Each half of the magazine is dividedby partition walls in four compartments and each compartment is shown as being designed for receiving four rounds of ammunition. However, as will be evident, the number of cornpartments and the capacity of the compartments may be larger or smaller than shown.

Each of the compartments includes an appropriate number of spring loaded pawls 5 which are mounted on a frame 6. The frames are axially movable, that is, longitudinally of the compartments. They are guided by means of rollers 7 in guide tracks 8. There are two guide tracks 8 for each compartment, but to simplify the illustration only two guide tracks are shown in FIG. 2. The guide tracks 8 mount spring loaded pawls 5 which in a well known manner serve to prevent an upward movement of the rounds in the compartments.

The feeding table is mounted below the two halves of the magazine at a right angle thereto. It comprises a transversely movable bar 9 to which are secured two elongated members 10 and 11. Each of these members supports spring-actuated pawls 12. g

FIG. 2 further shows the bottom flange 13 of the cartridge casing of a round in the ramming position. The round is rammed by the acceleration of a rammer 14 or" conventional design.

As is apparent a reciprocatory movement other 9 and hence of members 10 and Hand the pawls thereon through a stroke length corresponding to the width of a compartment of the magazine will move rounds on the table step by step into the ramming position.

As is further apparent, the magazine should be emptied starting from the outside compartments relative to the ramming positionand preferably alternately to avoid a jamming of the rounds on the feeding table.

As the rounds while being transported on the feeding table may become misaligned relative to the direction of transport, guide means in the form of Maltese crosses '15 are provided which retain the rounds on the table parallel to each other and to the, final ramming position, or in other words, at a right angle to the direction of transport on the table.

The reciprocatory movements of bar 9 are powered by means of spring devices 16 and 1'], that is, one for each half of the magazine; These spring devices actuate levers 18 and 1? respectively which are pivotal about pivots 20 and 21 as is shown in FIG. 1.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, lever 18 will be urged toward the right by its spring device 16, and lever 19 will be urged toward the left by its spring device 17, as seen in FIG. 3. Each lever in its pushed-out position will be in the path of movement of tongue 4 during the recoiloperation, and as a result will be pushed inwardly by engagement with the tongue. The pushed-in position of the lever, which is shown in FIG. 3 for lever 18, repwhich is shown is a tongue 4 which should be visualized as being connected to the breech ring (not shown) of the resents the cocked position of the respective spring device and the levers are retained in the pushed-in position by releasable catch noses 22 and '23 respectively. The movements of levers 18 and 19 as' effectedby the respective spring devices 16 and 17 are transmitted to bar 9 by a coupling member 24 which is engaged by the levers and secured to bar 9. During the runout movement of tongue 4, the direction of which is indicated in FIG. 3 by a perpendicular arrow, bar 9 is pushed toward the left as indicated by a horizontal arrow by the force of spring device 17, assuming that the associated lever 19 has been released from catch 23. FIG. 3 shows the completion of the movement of bar 9 toward the left, that is, a round is in the ramming position and can be rammed by means of rammer 14. During the next recoil movement of tongue 4, that is, in the direction oppo- Patented Feb. 20, 1962 3 site to the one indicated by the perpendicular arrow, spring device 17 is cooked by pushing lever 19 toword' the right and is retained in its cocked position by reengagement of lever 19 with catch 23. During the subsequent runout movement bar 9 is pushed toward the right by the previously cocked spring device 16 when the associated catch 22 is released. As aresult, alternate recoil movements. of tongue 4 will move bar 9 toward the left and right respectively, thereby causing feeding of rounds alternately" from the right and the left half of the magazine. Suitable and well-known selecting means are provided for controlling the release of catches 22 and 23 in the proper sequence and with the proper timing.

As. such selecting means do not constitute part of theinvention, they are not illustrated or described in detail. Due to the feeding of rounds from alternate halves of the magazine, the elevating mass of the gun has always approximately the same. weight on both sides of a perpendicular symmetry plane through the axis of the bore of the gun barrel;

The longitudinal displacements of frames 6 which-in turn effect the feeding of successive rounds upon the feeding table, are derived from the rcciprocatory' movements' of the feeding table, or more specifically of the Forthis purposea lever 25 is pivoted at bar 9' thereof. one 'end to bar 9' andat the other end to a cranlc 26- on a shaft 27. This shaft mountsa bevel gear 28 which- Couplings; 32 are slip couplings; that is, couplings which will transmit a limited predetermined torque only from shafts 31 to arms 33. Various couplings or clutches of this kind, such as spring' couplings are well: known in the art.. The, torque transmitted by the couplings is so set; that-a frame 6 will be longitudinally displaced only when the spacebelowth'e compartment within which thev respective frame is mounted is-vacant; As a result; there can be no jamming of rounds on the table. further apparent, feeding of. rounds; from the compartments is effectedby a positive force, that is, independent of the component of..the gravitational forceacting upon the rounds in the magazine in any el'evational position of the elevating mass of" the gun.

Damping devices 35 of suitable and conventional design are provided to act as shockabsorbers for arms 33 and adaptors 34..

While. the invention has been described in detail with respect to. a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom'. the spirit and scope of: the invention, and

it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

' What. is claimed. as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for feeding rounds of ammunition from These couplings a magazine to the ramming position of a gun comprising, in combination, a magazine including a plurality ofopen ended, parallel compartments, each one of said compartments receiving a plurality of rounds of ammunition, a feeding table mounted below one end of said compartments andlextending substantially normal thereto for feeding rounds. to a ramming position, a round feeding frame slidably supported within each one of said compartments for longitudinal movement relative thereto,

each one of said frames having a pluralityof longitudinally spaced apart pawls for supporting and releasing the rounds in each. respective compartment, displacement of each said frame in a direction toward said table releasing the lowermost round in each such compartment for feeding upon said table, drive means for imparting reciprocatory motion to each of said frames, control means transmitting said. motion to each such. frame devoid of. a round of ammunition upon said feeding-table: directly beneath each said compartment, said control means including a slip coupling interposed between said drive means in each one of said frames; said magazine comprising two groups of compartments disposed on opposite sides of a ramming position of the gun, and separate drive means and control means for said groups of. com-.

tuatingimeansif'or each'of said spring'm'eans and engage able with a recoiling part of the gun, said two actuating means being alternately movable into aud out of engagement with said recoiling part whereby frames in alternate.

groups are displaced by each recoil and feedingof rounds is: changed from one group to. the other after each recoil.

4'. A device according'to'clairn 3' wherein each of said. actuating means comprises pivotally' mounted. levers coupled" to the respective spring means and also drivingly" connected to each of. the control means of the: respective groupofcompart'meutS, one of said levers being turned by eachrecoilunovement out of the path. of the next following recoil movement and the other into. the. path. of

said following recoil movement, the. turning of. a. lever out of the path of the recoil movement efiecting cocking:

of the respective spring means;

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNIT ED- STATES PATENTS 677,872 Locke July 9), 1901 2,192,677 Hoagland et al Mar. 5, 1940 2,790,356 Gcrdin Apr. 30, 1957 2,792,762 Nicss May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,264

Great Britain 1892 

